Tuesday, April 30, 2013

IN THE AIR & ON THE WAY TO OBC!

A traveler wakes up one morning, hits their alarm clock and looks over at their packed bag. They jump out of bed and brush their teeth. Butterflies begin to flutter around their stomach. The doorbell rings, the cab is here. The driver eyeballs the large, 45-gallon pack sitting by the door – hesitating to offer help given it’s size, but eventually the driver reaches out and lugs the heavy bag down the steps to the car. The traveler is squeezed tight by mom, and then their little sister, and then by mom again. Eventually, the manage to pry themselves away after whispering a few loving words to help loosen their mother’s grip.

Moving toward the cab, the butterflies in their gut fight hard at their stomach’s walls. “This is it” they say to themselves. “I am actually going, I am going to get on a plane and go to… Canmore. I wonder what it’s like there? I wonder what my instructor will be like? I wonder what the PLANE will be like.”

This traveler has never been on a plane. Nor have they ever been out of their province. In fact, they haven’t been more than 2 or 3 hours out of town. They have never been camping, they have never been in a canoe and they have never built a campfire. Not only that, but they have never felt very engaged in a traditional school, never had the courage to speak up even when they knew they could lead people, and they have never really thought they were very good at new things.

Luckily, all of that is about to change. That is what Outward Bound Canada does, we take people out of their comfort zone and create a safe space where they can explore and discover all that they are capable of, and the moment you shut the door and depart on the trip there is all just part of the experience.

As a non-profit, charitable, educational organizationwe strive daily to make sure ALL of our courses are accessible to youth who are just like this traveler – youth who might not otherwise get these experience and may never see other, amazing parts of Canada.

This is much of the reason why we are launching it’s first Aeroplan Beyond Miles Campaign! Our Miles Beyond The Ordinary campaign is asking for you to help send our bursary students on OBC’s life-changing programs. Our goal is to raise 500,000 Aeroplan Miles by May 31st – and AEROPLAN WILL MATCH UP TO 10% of all the points that are donated. Donation information will be provided shortly, please stay tuned on Facebook or Twitter for details.What fears or questions did you have when you left for your Outward Bound trip?